Method of building and placing piers.



D. D. McBEAN.

METHOD or BUILDING AND PLACING PIERS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR- 20,1916- Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

mr mum/s versus c0 Puuro.| |ma.. WASHINGYUN, u c

DUNCAN D. MCBEAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed March 20, 1916. Serial No. 85,280.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN D. MoBnAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Building and Placing Piers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In another application filed by me I haveshown and described a novel method of building concrete or composite tunnels and similar structures which involves, in general, the construction of a bulkheaded water tight section of sufficient length to float in water in an upright position, the floating of such structure and its completion while in the water by progressively building up its tubular walls to the length desired for a full section or as permitted by the depth of the water.

The invention which constitutes the subject of this application is an improvement on this method in that it more specifically relates to the construction and installation of deep water piers and analogous structures upon the same general plan, but with such additional steps and apparatus as the special requirements of these last named devices involve or require. Without further reference to the application mentioned, therefore, which may be regarded as concerned exclusively with tunnel construction, I shall describe the improvement in this case as one entirely new in the construction of piers and similar devices.

The objects of this invention are, in the main, as follows z-first, and perhaps of prime importance, to provide a method and resulting construction whereby access to the interior of the pier or like structure under simple atmospheric pressure is afforded and maintained at all times during its construction and placement, and such accessibility availed of to provide a suitable foundation for the structure; second, to provide a method of construction which enables the structure to be built in an upright position while floating in the water; and this, whether the construction be sectional or monolithic; third, to provide a novel method and means for preparing a foundation at great depths by working through. the Wall which forms the bottom of a shaft extending from said bottom to the top of the structure; fourth, to

provide a plan of procedure such that the carrying the same into effect, whereby a safe and secure masonry foundation may be accurately placed beneath such a pier as my invention contemplates, at depths beyond those at which divers can Work; sixth, to provide a method and means for carrying the same into effect, whereby excavation for the foundation for a pier can be very speedily and economically carried on; seventh, to provide for either excavating, leveling off, or otherwise disposing of rock encountered in the preparation of a foundation for the pier; eighth, to provide an improved method of construction by means of which a pier or other analogous structure may be made hollow, so as to economize in the amount of masonry or other material for the wall used so far as is consistent with securing ample strength, any deficiency in weight being compensated for by suitable filling material; and ninth, to provide a means which permits the workmen at all times to Work under atmospheric pressure conditions, and which permits the work of construction to be carried on in a very limited space, usually and preferably, alongside a suitable dock.

My improvements moreover, in general, possess many and important advantages of economy and efficiency in addition to and independently of its value as being so far as I am now advised, the only feasible plan for constructing and placing excessively deep piers and other like structures.

Described in general terms my invention consists in constructing the lower end portion of a pier or analogous structure, closing its bottom and floating it in the water. The side walls are then progressively built up causing the structure to descend deeper into the water as the building progresses,

and this work is carried on in this way until the structure, if designed to be of a single section is completed to its full length. In case it is intended to build the structure of two or more sections, a first section is built,

' and both endsclosed, when it is floated ofl prone on its side.

' after which the whole structure is towed to i its site and one end lowered. until it is suspended directly over the proposed foundation.

The excavation and other foundation work beneath the structure, is then performed by suitable apparatus passing through the floor,

' and controlled or operated from any point within or above the structure. When the bed of the foundation has been completed the pier is lowered into bearing and masonry, usually concrete, is deposited beneath it, by suitable means.

An important characteristic of the method is that the structure may be maintained in almost perfectly equipoised condition in the water during all the steps of its construc- .tion and placement, so that dangerous stresses upon it are avoided and great economy', safety and convenience of manipulation secured.

Assuming for purposes of this case that all the appliances for starting the work in such a structure as is herein contemplated and for floating it off into the water in an upright position so that its Walls may be progressively extended, are now old and Well known from the disclosures in other cases filed by me, I have illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings so much of such plan as is necessary to an understanding of its application to the construction and placement of piers and the like.

' Figure l is a vertical central section of a portion of a pier showing the appliances and illustrating the method employed by me in its construction. 7 V

Fig. 2 isa horizontal section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Let it be assumed that the numeral 1 indi cates the side walls of a pier which has been built up from the bottom to a height that will'enable it to be removed from a platform into the water when it floats in an'upright position, and then built up progres- 5 'sively from that point while floating. The

specific character of this pier may be greatly varied, but. for several reasons I prefer that it'shall consist of'concrete walls surrounded 'by' a Watertight sheathing of interlocking 6O; planking 2, the planking extending up to a point Where it will be always under the water and hence not subject towear and decay. Such a device may be built up by fill ing in -concrete between the outer plank sheathing and an inner form of wood or metal, and as the walls as they approach the surface are required to sustain less and less pressure, the whole structure may be built up in courses of gradually decreasing thickness, the first or thickest and the second course only being shown in the drawings.

In order also to appreciate the nature of what I have accomplished and of the plan which I follow in obtaining the results described, it may be assumed that the diameter of the pier here shown is thirty feet, the walls at the bottom seven feet thick, the height or total length perhaps 200 feet and the other parts in convenient and proper proportion.

The bottom of the structure is closed with a dished metal head 3, that is capable of withstanding the pressure to which it will be subjected in building and placing the same, and around the lower edge of the device is secured a steel footing 4, with a cut ting edge as shown.

After the bottom has been completed and as the walls are progressively extended, a stout metal partition 5 is placed a short dis tance above the bottom plate 3, and a central tube 6 is built up from the bottom pin to of a diameter of eight feet or more, which is carried up the full length of the structure.

A few feet above the partition 5 is a second partition 7, which like the first should be so united to the concrete walls and the steel tube 6 as to form an annular water tight chamber, and above this chamber another annular chamber is formed by a partition plate 8, properly joined to the cement walls and central tube 6, to make a water tight pressure resisting chamber. This plate 8, for this purpose, is supported by hangers 9 from a series of cross beams 10.

There will thus be provided at the bottom of the structure, three annular closed compartments, and doors of communication should be formed from the central tube 6 into all of these chambers, such doors as lead into the middle chamber being in the nature of valve controlled passageways.

The middle chamber formed by the partitions 5 and 7 is moreover divided up into a number, say eight or ten smaller compartments by double partitions 11 of stout metal plating, a space of a few inches being left between adjacent plates, and through these spaces pipes 12 of about five inches in diameter are placed and secured which terminate in the bottom plate 3, and are carried to the top of the structure or to any convenient and proper point therein above the bottom. These pipes constitute free passages through the entire structure or such part thereof as practical working conditions may j determine.

In addition to these pipes, others 13, of

ice

the same character are carried down through the concrete walls under the sheathing at intervals as shown and terminate with open ends below the steel footing 4. lVhether the structure is built in successively reduced thicknesses of Wall, or not, the upper open ends of the pipes 13 will project up to the surface of the water or carried to the top of the structure.

Similar pipes 15, in convenient number are also carried through the central tube 6 and are continued. down through the bottom plate 3, but are made separable at a short distance above the said plate, the lower portion being provided with gate valves 16.

From or about the level of the extreme bottom of the footing l, lead large pipes 17, through the bottom plate 3, the lowermost annular chamber and into each of the compartments of the middle chamber, Where they terminate a few inches above its floor. In the lower chamber these pipes are provided with gate valves 18 and their upper ends are closed by valves 19, carried by piston rods 20 passing up through stuffing boxes in the floor of the top chamber and operated by the piston 21, of compressors 22. Around each valve 18, is a valve controlled by-pass 23.

As previously explained this structure after being started and floated is built up progressively in the water, the weight being determined in such manner that as it is constructed it gradually sinks. The surplus buoyancy of the structure is overcome by admitting water between the interior shaft and the outer walls, and by such addition of weight the position of the structure is perfectly controlled. Its length may be any desired or that the depth of the water permits, and when finished it is placed in an upright position immediately over the site upon which it is to finally rest. Of course if the bottom is clean and flat rock, the only necessary preparation for its foundation will be the delivery to the bottom through any or all of the pipes passing through the structure of sufficient concrete to form ,a substantial and stable bed. But if mud, sand, loose or uneven rock is encountered, a proper basis for the foundation must be prepared. Mud and small stones in such cases removed by closing the valves 19 by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, closing tightly the compartments of the middle chamber and then opening the valves 18. The enormous pressure will thereupon force the material up into the compartments as soon as the valves 19 are opened, and as soon as these latter are filled and the heavier particles sunk down through the pipes 17, the valves 18, are closed, the compartments opened into the central tube, and their contents removed and sent up to the surface in buckets.

In this way all soft material and small stones are readily removed from under the pier, until hard bottom is reached. Should jagged or large rocks or uneven rock beds be encountered drills are let down through pipes and worked on the rocks to disintegrate or reduce them until a level and firm bottom is prepared for the reception of the cement bed.

After the pier is finally supported in place, the appliances, partitions and other movable parts so far as practicable may be removed and the pier filled to any extent with solid material or water.

Circumstances and conditions may frequently present themselves when very long piers for bridges, docks and the like are required, but heretofore there has been no practicable method devised for building or installing them. Vvorkmen and divers cannot live below a certain depth well above the possible limits that can be attained by this system, and hence the invention affords a simple and complete solution of an engineering problem that heretofore has been regarded as insurmountable.

I have not been at pains to point out wherein the improvement may be modified. as I believe it to be essentially new and revolutionary, and it may readily be seen that the means for carrying it out may be very greatly varied by the genius and forethought of individual workmen and designers.

What I claim as my invention, recognizing that elsewhere I have claimed the method of building such structures as this by progressively completing; their walls while floating in an upright position in the water, is

1. The method of constructing and installing piers and the like devicesin the beds of rivers or other bodies of water, which consists in progressively building up masonry or composite tubes open at the top and closed at the bottom while the structure is sinking through the water and underlying material, admitting the water surrounding the structure to force the water bed material through valve controlled passages into compartments within the structure in proximity to its closed bottom, and from thence raising the material to the top of the structure, until the pier has sunk to the requisite depth.

2. The method of constructing and installing piers and the like devices in the beds of rivers or other bodies of water, which consists in progressively building up masonry or composite tubes open at the top and closed at the bottom while the structure is sinking through the water and underlying material, admitting the water surrounding the structure to force the water beds ofrivers and other bodies of water,

bcdmaterial through valve controlled passages into compartments within the structure in proximity to its closed bottom, from thence raisingthe material to the top of the structure until the pier has sunkto the requisite depth, and then depositing concrete or other suitable material under the structure as a foundation therefor.

3. The method of constructing and installing piers and other'like devices in the whichconsists in progressively building up walls inclosing a space open at the top.andr

closed near the bottom of the structure and while the structure is sinking through the water and underlying material, admitting water surrounding the structure to force by hydrostatic pressure the "water bed material through valve controlled passages into receptaclesrin the airspace within the walls of the lower part of the structure above its closed bottom, then disposing of the material which has entered the receptacle through the air shaft until the structure has sunk to the requisite depth for a foundation.

the receptacles and removing the material from them through the air shaft until by the removal of underlying material the structure has been sunk to the proper level for a foundation. I

5. The method 'of constructing and installing piers and other like devices in the beds of rivers or other bodies of water, which consists in progressively building up walls inclosing a space open'at the'top and closed near the bottom of the structure while the said structure is sinking, and when the bottom of the structure restsupon the material of the waterbed admitting the sur- 'rounding water and water bed material through valve controlled pipes into com V partments in the lower part of the structure, 7 and removing it from the same through the air shaft, passing drills or tools through plpes extending through the structure to breakup or loosen hard water bed material, and Whenbythe removal of the'underlying materialthe structure has been sunk to the requisite level depositing concrete under it through the pipes to form a solid foundation. 7'

6. The method of constructing and installing piers and other like devices in the beds of rivers and other bodies of water, which consists in progressively building up masonry or composite tubes open at the top and closed at the bottom and with walls gradually decreasing in thickness toward the top while said tubes are sinking through the water and underlying material, causing the structure to sink through such material by admitting the latter with the water therein throughvalve controlled passages into normally closed receptacles in the lower part of the tube, then hoisting such material up through the open tube until by such removal of material the structure is sunk to the requisite level for its foundation.

7. The method of constructing and installing piers and other like tubular structures which consists in building up the tubes with masonry or composite walls open at the top and closed at the bottom, as they are sinking through the water and underlying material, sinking the structure through such material by admitting the same with water throu h pipes or passages extending up through the closed bottom into receptacles contained in the lower part of the tube, opening and closing said pipes and receptacles by suitable valves, removing the material from the receptacles into theeair shaft and hoisting it to the top of the structure and when the latter has sunk to the proper point preparing under it a proper foundation.

8. The method of constructing and iiistalling piers and other like structures, which consists in building walls either monolithic or in joined sections, inclosing a space which is open at the top and closed at'the bottom, sinking the structure through the water bed material by forcing such material by hydrostatic pressure into receptacles within and near the bottom of the structure, removing the material from such receptacles and raising it to the top of the structure and depositing under the structure a suitable foundation at the proper level.

9. A pier or similar device composed in whole or in part of concrete or composite walls forming a structure open at the top and closed at the bottom, having normally closed receptacles in the air space within the lower par-t of the same, valve controlled passages leading through the closed bottom into the said receptacles, and pipes or tubes extending entirely through the structure at various points.

10. A pier or similar device composed in whole or in part of a tubular structure open at the top and closed at the bottom, having normally closed receptacles in the air space within the lower part of the same, valve controlled passages leading through the closed bottom into the said receptacles, and controllable doors for the receptacles.

11. The method of constructing piers and similar structures, which consists in progressively building up masonry or composite tubes open at the too and closed at the bottom, maintaining the same while sinking and building in an upright position in the water and underlying material, and when it rests upon the water bed forcing the latter by hydrostatic pressure through pipes into compartments in the lower part of the structure above its closed bottom controlling the passage through said pipes and into said receptacles by suitable valves, and removing the material from the receptacle when the pressure is shut off by raising it to the top of the structure.

12. A long pier or similar structure composed in whole or in part of a concrete tube open at the top and closed at the bottom having normally closed, compartments within the air space near the bottom, passages leading therefrom through the otherwise closed bottom, valves for controlling the same, and means for closing the compartments and for opening the same into the air space within the structure.

13. llhe method of preparing foundations for long concrete or composite tubes constituting piers, which consists in sinking the tubes open at the top and closed at the bottom in an upright position over their intended sites, forcing by hydrostatic pressure the material from the bottom through controllable openings in their lower ends into closed compartments near such ends, closing such openings and then removing the material from said compartments.

14:. A long pier or similar structure composed in whole or in part of a concrete tube, compartments near the end of the same with controllable openings into a portion of the tube which is open to the air and valve controlled pipes leading through the interior into small compartments whereby soft material may be forced into such compartments and then removed therefrom through the tubular structure.

15. A concrete or composite tubular pier, having three superposed annular compartments at or near its closed lower end, pipes leading through the bottom into the middle compartment, two valves in said pipe and means in the lower compartment for slowly operating the lower valves and means in the upper compartment for quickly opening the upper valves.

16. A concrete or composite tubular pier of great length having three superposed annular chambers or compartments at or near its closed bottom, the middle compartment being divided by double walls into a series of smaller compartments, pipes passing through the bottom and valves for controlling the same whereby soft material may be forced into the smaller compartments and tubes extending down through the structure and between the double walls forming the smaller compartments through which drills or tools may be passed to break up large or uneven rocks under the pier in the preparation of a foundation.

17. A concrete or composite tubular pier of great length having three superposed annular compartments at or near its closed bottom, tubes leading up through the bottom into the middle compartment, gate valves in said tubes in the lower compartment, quick acting valves for the tubes in the middle compartment and power operated devices in the upper compartment for operating the last named valve.

18. A concrete or composite tubular pier of great length having superposed annular compartments at its lower closed end, a central tube or compartment extending from the bottom up through the pier, and tubes extending through the central tube or compartment and adapted for attachment to valve controlled tubes extending through the bottom of said compartment.

19. A concrete or composite tubular pier of great length having a closed bottom and adapted to be floated in an upright position on its intended site, a central tube extending up through the pier and forming a working chamber open to the air, superposed annular chambers or compartments surrounding the tube near the bottom of the structure and appliances contained therein for admitting material from under the structure by hydrostatic pressure into one compartment and means for controlling its admission and removal.

20. A pier or analogous deep water structure, having a shaft leading entirely through the same onto a closed lower end, working openings through'said closed end, compartments surrounding the bottom of the interior shaft with controllable openings into the shaft, and onto which the working openings lead, whereby materials may be transferred from and delivered to the space under the tube in the process of forming a solid foundation without flooding the working space within the structure.

21. The method of constructing and placing deep water piers and the like, which consists in constructing the main body of the same as a buoyant tube having an open top and closed at the bottom, whereby access may be had to all points of its interior under atmospheric or moderate air pressure, placing the structure in a vertical position to its foundation site, removing the water bed material by hydrostatic pressure through valve controlled passages in the bottom opening into normally closed compart- Q tending through the bottom, whereby all of such, operations may be effected and controlled by workmen Within the structure and working in air at normal pressure.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DUNCAN D. MoBEAN. lVitnesses A. F. MURRAY, THOS. BRAGKEN.

' Copies of this patent may be obteinedfor fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, DxC. 

